Spindle bolster



1952 R. c. CURRENCE ETAL 0 SPINDLE BOLSTER Filed April 25, 1950 Fig.

Rufus 6. Currence John L. Currence IN V EN TORS Patented Dec. 2, 1952SPINDLE BOLSTER Rufus 0. Currence, Gastonia, and JohnL." Currence,Belmont, 0.

Application April 25, 1950, Serial No. 157,964

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to spindle bolster supporting means,and more particularly to a particular bolster construction wherein novelmeans are provided to hold the bolster against rotation relative to thebolster-receiving base.

A primary object of this invention is to provide means to facilitate thereconditioning of a bolster when the key used to prevent such relativerotation requires replacement. It should be here noted that this key hassometimes been referred to as a pin, in the trade, although the term keywill be used in this specification. Heretofore, the worn keys weredifficult to remove and replace, the bolster being ordinarily shipped tothe manufacturer for reconditioning, this reconditioning involving thefiling away of the old key, the boring of holes in the bolster, andrefitting a new key therein. By the present invention, the bolster isconstructed with grooves and a transverse recess or undercut and a splitring of resilient material carrying a plate with a key thereon can bequickly inserted to replace a worn key. Maintenance personnel in themills can easily replace worn keys and a great saving in time andexpense is involved. The worn key construction can be bent out ofposition and a new one snapped into position in a minute and the bolsteris thereby reconditioned.

Another object of this invention is to retain all the benefits involvedin the use of conventional keys, and to provide locking means for thespindles, as mentioned above, which can be adapted for use with spindleswhich are conventional in all other regards, thereby making conversionof old spindles or spindles of otherwise conventional type a matter ofcomparatively simple machining operations.

And a last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a device ofthe character mentioned above which is relatively simple and inexpensiveto manufacture, which is safe and convenient to use under all ordinaryconditions, and which will give relatively efiicient and durableservice.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a bolster-receiving base, abolster according to this invention mounted therein, and a portion of aspindle, the said bolster and spindle being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a grouped view of the bolster per se and the key assembly,both parts being shown in perspective.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawing.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a conventional bolster-receivingbase [0 has an upstanding neck portion l2 with an internallongitudinally disposed groove H, the groove being represented in Figure2. A spindle blade 16 of conventional character seats within the neckl2, with its collar l8 resting on an upper terminal portion 20 of thebolster, which is generally indicated by the numeral 22. The portion 20is of reduced diameter.

The bolster is constructed, according to this invention, with atransverse recess taking the form of an annular undercut 24, adjacentthe upper end of the bolster and separated from the reduced portion '20of the bolster by a shoulder 26 of annular form. A superficial,longitudinally disposed groove 28 extends along a considerable portionof the upper part of the bolster 22 and, in the preferred formillustrated, this groove 28 traverses the journal portion 30 as well asthe transverse recess or undercut 24 and the shoulder 26.

A key 32 is provided to fit within the internal groove l4 of thebolster-receiving base, this key being integral with a plate 34 andresilient arms 36 extending in opposed relation from each side of theplate 34 and comprising a split ring adapted to fit within the recess orundercut 24, while the plate 34 fits within the portion of the groove 28extending immediately above and immediately below the recess or undercut24.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and thedrawing. In recapitulation, it may be added that the resilient arms 36allow the key assembly comprising the parts 32, 34 and 36 to be snappedout of position on the bolster when the key 32 becomes worn, and a newkey assembly can easily be snapped in place and the bolster thenreplaced in the bolster-receiving base 10, with the key 32 engaged inthe internal groove M. It will be clear that the objects recited aboveare amply achieved by this invention. Further description would appearto be unnecessary.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A bolster assembly comprising a body having a transverse recess and ashoulder in the upper end portion thereof, a superficial longitudinalgroove in the upper end portion transversing said recess and shoulder, abase in which said bolster is disposed, said base having an internalgroove, a plate in said longitudinal groove and having curved resilientarms extending from each side thereof and engaging said recess, and akey fixed to and rising from the outer surface of said plate forengaging said internal groove in said base.

2. Means for locking a bolster against rota- REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

' FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1912 Number

